Mail Order Christine
Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies
Book 13
By
Patricia PacJac Carroll
Christine Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies Book 13
Author Patricia PacJac Carroll
Copyright © May 2020
Published by PacJac Publishing
ALL rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, (except for inclusion in reviews), disseminated or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or audio. Including photocopying, recording, or in any information storage and retrieval system, or the Internet/World Wide Web without written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Epilogue
Christine
Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies
Book 13
By
Patricia PacJac Carroll
Chapter 1
Christine Simpson stared at the small house. Once filled with so much love and laughter, it was now but an empty shell. Much the way she felt. When Doug had died six months ago, part of her had gone with him. She’d wanted to continue living on the small farm they’d coaxed out of the hard Kansas soil, but Marvin was coming.
It had only taken her husband’s brother a month to find out about his death, and he’d sent a letter stating that he wanted the farm, her, and the boy. He’d warned that he had the right to marry her by the old family ways. Without money to pay the taxes, if she stayed, she would have no choice.
She never replied to Marvin and was determined to keep him away from her child. Seth deserved the chance to have a good father. Doug had warned her about his brother and told her that the man was evil and to stay away from him.
The day she received the letter from Marvin, Christine began looking into the mail-order bride ads. The banker told her the property would revert to Marvin until Seth came of age. She’d met Marvin once, and she knew he would take her son and try to marry her the moment he arrived.
Because she needed a husband so quickly, her friend, who had also investigated the mail-order bride ads, advised her not to mention the baby. Christine felt dishonest in keeping it a secret. Still, at the same time, she couldn’t take a chance on Marvin getting his filthy hands on her son. Christine needed to escape as quickly as possible.
She jumped at the first positive response from the mail-order ad. The man had a ranch in Texas and was waiting for her. Fearing that he would reject her, she did not mention Seth to him in the second letter, either.
Finally, with no other response from the ads and Marvin coming by the end of the week, she knew she had to run. She’d sent a telegram to Everett McNeal telling him she accepted his proposal. In his next letter, he sent her money to travel to his ranch and had to admit, he was most generous. She answered and told him she would be in Texas by the end of the month.
Finally, the day came, and with her carpetbag and child in hand, she left her home and went to town to catch the train. Christine stopped by the post office to check if there were any other offers. After all, she had no idea what kind of man this Everett McNeal would be. But the only letters she’d received had come from him, and this time was no different. She took the envelope from the clerk and recognized Everett’s handwriting.
In a panic, she prayed that he was a better man than Marvin. She’d only met her brother-in-law once, and that had been enough. He was mean, a drunk, and not a man she would want around her son.
Seth crawled to her and pulled himself up by hanging onto her dress. Her heart caught in her throat. She prayed this Everett would be forgiving and love her one-and-a-half-year-old son as his own.
She opened the letter. Everett McNeal was looking forward to her coming and hoped she would like Texas. He had a good-sized ranch, and he was confident that he could take care of her. It was the last sentence of his letter that stung her heart.
I don’t want any children.
No explanation. Just a statement as if he were stating she must be under thirty, strong, and decent to look at. She would have written him back if she had the time.
But she didn’t.
The telegraph she’d received from Marvin had stated he’d be here by the end of the week to take the farm and marry her. The only thing Christine could do was go to Texas.
Shaking, she reached down and picked Seth up and hugged him to her. “I’m not going to let Marvin get his hands on you. We’re going on a trip. To a new country. A new home.”
How could she tell her son the man she was betrothed to by mail, didn’t want him? Christine put away her thoughts for another day. The first thing she needed to do was get away from Marvin.
She grabbed her bag and stuffed the letter Everett had sent her inside. She wondered if she threw it away, she could say she hadn’t known that he didn’t want children. But then, Christine abhorred lying.
Yet, she was lying to this Everett. She prayed God would forgive her but felt she had no choice. She would die to save her son from falling into Marvin’s hands. She kissed her son and walked up the platform to the train. She would have to trust that where she was going was better than the danger she was leaving.
Everett had sent enough money for hotel and stagecoach. She could only hope he’d change his mind after he met her and Seth. She drew in a long breath and let it out slowly. “We’ll do fine, Seth. Don’t you worry, baby. Mama’s going to take care of you.”
~~~
The ride to Texas was long, hot, and dusty. Even though it was only May, the temperature felt like the middle of August. Yet, as they neared near San Antonio the land turned green and lush. It gave her hope that Everett’s ranch might be prosperous. The man had talked as though it was.
Swaying in the rocky coach, Christine played with her son. Seth was the perfect baby and didn’t fuss and was easy to entertain. He was a smart boy and strong. He favored Doug and had her husband’s dark hair but her green eyes. Christine was glad about that. Even though Doug was gone, a part of him lived on. No one could take that from him.
A brief thought of Marvin sent a shiver through her. The man was no good. He mistreated his animals and terrorized the women at the saloon. She’d heard enough stories about him to know that he must never find her or Seth.
According to Doug, he and Marvin had never gotten along. Marvin was older by three years but stayed in constant trouble. Finally, their father forced him to leave home, and when the time came, their father willed Doug the family farm.
Doug rarely mentioned his family until the day Marvin had shown up. Christine had taken an instant dislike to the man. There was something not right about his eyes.
Hard and hungry, they’d bored through her.
Marvin had let it slip once while Doug was outside that should anything happen to Doug, he’d marry her, take charge of that boy, and make a man out of him. All said while sneering as if he had plans.
Not that Christine thought Marvin had anything to do with Doug’s death, but she wanted no part of that man. Legally, he had claim to the farm until Seth came of age. She’d let him have it, but he’d not get his hands on Seth or her.
The driver’s husky voice shouted, “Whoa,” signaling the coach was stopping, and they were at the depot. Soon, he jumped down and opened the door. She took the driver’s hand and stepped out of the coach.
He pointed to the right. “Stage office is over there. If you’re waiting for someone, you can sit on the bench.”
She thanked him, set Seth down, and picked up her traveling bag. With a nudge, she led Seth to the depot and sat down. More sitting. She’d done enough to last her a year, but at least the bench wasn’t moving.
The letter had said that Everett would send a man with a buckboard to pick her up in San Antonio, and then it would be another day’s ride to Mesa Ranch. He must have thought she’d not like being so far from everything because Everett had added that there was a small town a half a day’s ride south of his ranch. The thought that he cared about her gave her a measure of confidence that she was doing the right thing.
Life on the farm had been lonely, but with Doug, it had been a joyful time. She smiled, thinking of the day he’d married her and brought her to the small farm. They’d had such good times and planned to have so many more.
At times, Christine began to doubt that God was still watching over her. Then she would see Seth and know that He was. Now, if only she could convince this Everett to change his mind about children.
Why would any man be against having children?
“Christine Simpson?”
She looked up and smiled at a man with whiskers, and eyes crinkled with fun lines. “Yes. Are you from Everett’s ranch?”
With a wary look at the baby, he nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” The man ran a hand through his hair and pointed. “That isn’t your baby, is it?”
She nodded. “Yes, he is. I—”
“Cute fella.” Standing back, he wiped his forehead before putting his hat back on. “The boss doesn’t like kids. Told me specifically that he never wanted any.”
Christine’s heart sank. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Everett is all set on marrying you, and I have to say, I approve of you. But he’ll turn you out for bringing a kid along.” He held out his hand. “I’m Dusty Sorrels. I’m the ranch foreman, Everett’s best and only friend.”
“Oh, Dusty, help me. I can’t give up my son, and I can’t go back to Kansas.” Tears pricked her eyes, but she knew better than to cry. It only showed weakness, and she needed to be strong for her sake and Seth’s. “My brother-in-law is a cruel man, and he means to take me and my son. I can’t let that happen.”
Dusty looked at her with pity in his brown eyes. “You know, my wife and I have a big family. Margaret sometimes cooks for Everett, but he doesn’t pay much attention to our kids. It’s not that he doesn’t like children. He just doesn’t want them for himself. What I’m trying to say is I’m sure my wife won’t mind looking after your little one until you can persuade Everett that he might want a kid or two on the place.”
Hope lifted her spirits. “It’s our only chance. Why is Everett so opposed to having children?”
Dusty set her bag in the wagon and frowned. “You’ll have to ask him.”
“You think Margaret will mind?”
Dusty grinned. “As much as Everett dislikes kids, she loves them, and I love Margaret and all five or our children. Let’s go, and we’ll stop by my place first.” Dusty helped her onto the buckboard and then passed Seth to her. “I do say, Everett will be pleased to have you.”
“Thank you, Dusty.” She hugged Seth to her. Could she really drop her child off to strangers and leave him? “I don’t know if I can leave my baby.”
Dusty slapped the reins. “I know it will be hard, but trust me, Everett means it when he says he doesn’t want kids. He was engaged to a woman. They broke up because he wouldn’t agree to have children with her.”
“Is he a cruel man? Please, tell me the truth?”
“No, he’s not mean or anything like that. Never talks about his family, though. It makes me think something happened to him growing up. He’s a good boss. Treats his animals well, and always has a kind word for the women.”
“Do you think he’ll change his mind?”
“I hope so. I know he’d be a happier man if he did.” He paused for a moment. “I know my wife, Margaret, will love your little one like her own if that’s a comfort to you.” Dusty looked at her with compassion and then turned and clicked to the horses to urge them on.
With Marvin behind her and Everett in front of her, Christine felt as if she were being squeezed in the middle. The few dollars she had wouldn’t last her long. Jobs for women were scarce, for decent women anyway. Plus, not many men wanted to marry a woman with another man’s child.
She closed her eyes and sent a silent prayer to the Lord that He would watch out for her and Seth. God was her only hope between the two colliding worlds.
Chapter 2
Everett McNeal swung his horse around and rushed after the mustang. He’d been chasing that black for a month and wasn’t about to give up. The mare had some good bloodlines in her and would make a valuable addition to his herd.
He closed the gap between them, swung his rope high, and threw it over her head. Jinx sat back and jerked her to a stop.
The black mare snorted and reared. She started to rush them when Jinx whipped to the side, yanking her off her feet. Everett patted the big sorrel’s neck. The gelding had some sturdy draft horse in his blood to go with his speed. Not many horses could outrun or pull him over.
Finally, the mare settled down, and he let the rope relax so her breathing would ease up. She was a smart one. Everett could see it in her eyes. Maybe she’d make a good riding horse for the woman he’d marry. He looked at the sun. The woman should be here today.
Dusty had gone to San Antonio to pick her up. Everett could have gone. Should have gone, but he wasn’t good at sizing up new people. He’d rather stay on the ranch and let Dusty look her over. His foreman would send her packing if he didn’t think she’d be right for him.
Everett trusted his foreman and hoped she’d be a good pick. The agency had tried to pair him with a woman who had three kids. He’d told her no quickly enough. Not that he hated kids, he just didn’t want to be responsible for any.
He winced at the memory of his poor upbringing. His father beat him regularly and was drunk every day by noon. Meanness had been drilled into Everett by the time he was ten. It had taken him another fifteen years to beat it out of himself.
Having children might just bring it back. His father had always said. “If it weren’t for you kids, I’d be a good man. Wouldn’t drink. Wouldn’t beat your ma. I tried to tell your ma that the McNeals weren’t meant to have kids.”
How many times had Everett heard those words? Anyway, he’d take the woman and make her his wife and take care of her. Love her the best he could. But he’d not have children. She’d have to agree to it. He didn’t really need a wife, but the nights were lonely out here on the ranch.
Brushing his thoughts aside, he tied the wild mare’s rope snug and rode toward the corral. He’d get Dusty working on the mare right away. Maybe in a month, his wife could ride the horse. He’d let her name the animal, too.
Everett put the mare in the corral and watched to make sure she would stay. There were a couple gentle cowponies in with her to settle her down along with fresh water and hay. The black beauty ran around the corral a few times and then settled down with the gray mare.
Convinced that she’d not try to jump the fence, Everett put up Jinx and then walked to th
e house. Once inside, he looked around and tried to see how the woman might view his house. One main room. Kitchen off to the side, bedroom in the back. Just one. It was neat. Everett kept a tidy house. There was a slight aroma of bacon from breakfast. Dishes were cleaned and drying.
He went into the bedroom and made sure the bed was made, and the clothes put away. He’d cleaned out the wardrobe for her and dusted the dresser. The opened windows let in a nice southerly breeze that billowed out the curtains and freshened the room.
“She should be happy.” Everett had gotten to where he often spoke to himself. That was another reason he’d written for a wife. A man shouldn’t talk to himself so much. He needed a woman to pass the days and nights with.
Oh, he had Dusty, but he was as cantankerous as a mule, and he and his wife scolded him about not wanting kids. How could Everett tell them of the hard days when his pa would beat him followed by the dark nights when he heard him take his anger out on his ma.
“No, if that’s what having children does to a man. A McNeal. Then I don’t want no part of it. To protect this, Christine, I won’t allow there to be any children. For her good.” He nodded as if to settle the matter once and for all.
Everett didn’t entertain thoughts on what she must look like. He really didn’t care. He wanted a companion and not a fairytale love story. If she wasn’t too much older or younger, he’d be fine with her.
He did hope she had her teeth. Everett didn’t relish the idea of eating soup for the rest of his life. And he hoped she wasn’t too skinny or too fat. Cowboy Dean had ordered a bride, and she’d come outweighing his horse.
Everett laughed and sat down. Then again, Cowboy Dean and Martha were two of the happiest people he’d ever known. She’d lost a lot of weight and had three children, but Everett never saw Cowboy Dean or his wife without a smile.
Mail Order Christine Page 1